Masahiro Tanaka has finally arrived in the United States and is expected to meet with multiple MLB teams — including the Yankees — over the next few days, according to a source.
Tanaka, the coveted Japanese free-agent righty, flew into Los Angeles on Wednesday night and reportedly had a physical Thursday. He is planning to meet with as many as 10-to-12 teams, although it’s unclear if all the meetings will take place in L.A.
Details of the sit-downs remain a closely guarded secret, but other teams interested in the 25-year-old Rakuten star — who easily ranks as the market’s top starting pitcher — also include the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Cubs, White Sox and perhaps the Mariners and Blue Jays.
Tanaka must strike a deal by Jan. 24 after being posted on Christmas.
The reason so many teams are lining up for the chance to speak with Tanaka and his agent, Casey Close, is clear. While there is always a risk in signing pitchers from Japan, Tanaka is younger than others to make the leap to the majors, and scouts rave about his arsenal and his makeup. He went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 2013.
One of the lone concerns regarding Tanaka is the heavy workload he had while with Rakuten (1,315 innings in seven seasons, as well as a high pitch count), but teams will still likely offer him a contract in the six-year, $100 million range, if not higher. The team that signs Tanaka will also pay a $20 million posting fee to the Rakuten Golden Eagles, his former team.
Although the Yankees are seen as among the favorites to land Tanaka, one official warned the same was true of Robinson Cano until Seattle entered the fray.
“When the Yankees want someone — and they want this guy — they usually get him,” the official said. “But that’s not always the case anymore.”
Infielder Jayson Nix agreed to a minor league deal with the Rays. Nix spent the last two seasons with the Yankees and was one of the many to fill in at third base in the absence of Alex Rodriguez and Kevin Youkilis. The Yankees have already signed Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts to go along with Eduardo Nunez as they prepare for life without Cano and perhaps Rodriguez. Mark Reynolds’ return remains a possibility.